EGFR exon mutation distribution and outcome in non-small-cell lung cancer: a Portuguese retrospective study

Tumour Biol. 2012 Dec;33(6):2061-8. doi: 10.1007/s13277-012-0465-5. Epub 2012 Jul 29.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations play a predictive role in advanced stages of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We conducted this study in order to assess EGFR status in a Portuguese population and its role in NSCLC patients' outcomes. Patients were submitted to EGFR assessment by high-resolution melting and/or direct sequencing. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to assess overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS). Two hundred forty eight out of 322 participants were assessed for EGFR status. Forty-two patients (16.9 %) presented EGFR-mutated status: one patient (2.4 %) presented exon 18; 21 patients (50 %), exon 19; one patient (2.4 %), exon 20; and 18 patients (45.2 %), exon 21 mutations, p < 0.001. PFS was not assessed (n.a.) for patient with exon 18 mutation, and for the other patients with mutations, it was 7 months (3.96-10.03) (exon 19), <1 month (exon 20), and 7 months (0-14.2) (exon 21) (p = 0.027). Overall survival (OS) was 11 months (exon 18), 11 months (1-18) (exon 19), 1 month (exon 20), and 7.5 months (2-70) (exon 21) (p = n.a). This study suggests that the EGFR mutation is herein observed in a higher proportion than expected for a Caucasian population, and OS is a little less than that published in the literature.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics*
  • Exons / genetics*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Portugal
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors